Confirmed Trade: [CBJ/TOR] Mikko Lehtonen for Veini Vehvilainen

[DuklaNation]

I would suspect Dubas knew it was 95% likely Lehtonen wouldn't stick with the Leafs but signed him anyways. People will state otherwise but the evidence subsequent to the signing suggests the premise is accurate.

 

[Notsince67]

I think Lehtonen will be good, but he just wasn't getting chances in Toronto. Could be a big win for Columbus

He had chances but the leafs didnt get enough to discard their younger guys. Timing was bad. I think Dubas did lehtonen a solid to give him a chance to compete. He may very well turn out to be quite decent.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

He played over 30 games in the AHL last year.

Was led astray by the fact that the only name mentioned in the post I quoted was Lehtonen.

Sorry.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

This has to be a move to clear money that's the only way it makes sense

Both have a cap hit of $925K and both are waivers exempt.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Was that the same guy that some had penciled in for 30 points before the year or am I thinking of someone else?

Nope same guy. Most Leaf fans expected him to be a top 4D for them

 

[tellermine]

After a while I think this might be win win.
Vehviläinen takes little time but might just be fine add to Leafs.

For Sue it is win got both players.

 

[middletoe]

Great trade for Columbus.

Imho he can definitely play a 4/5 role right now.

Toronto must have promised him they'd give him a chance elsewhere if he wasn't going to get ice time here.

Seems like the Leafs make good business partners. Great selling point.

 

[MMANumminen]

You would take him over Brodie too ?

Yes

 

[middletoe]

Yes

Would our take him over Brodie & a 3rd?

 

[MMANumminen]

Surely hyperbole. Brodie is a legitimate, proven #2-3 on a reasonable contract.

Excluding Muzzin also shows considerable bias.

Bias how? I'm not either Leafs or Blue Jackets supporter. Finland? Yes I admit I am a homer in general but I am not high on all finnish prospects for example Kakko or Tolvanen who were hyped quite a lot.

Of all finnish D-man I'd pick only Heiskanen, Lindell and Risto before him.

 

[MMANumminen]

Would our take him over Brodie & a 3rd?

If you add a bacon burger and a large beer it's a deal

 

[NinjaTurtle]

Bias how? I'm not either Leafs or Blue Jackets supporter. Finland? Yes I admit I am a homer in general but I am not high on all finnish prospects for example Kakko or Tolvanen who were hyped quite a lot.

Of all finnish D-man I'd pick only Heiskanen, Lindell and Risto before him.

Just because he might be the 4th or 5th best Finnish defence-man, doesn’t make him better than Brodie and Muzzin.

 

[MMANumminen]

Just because he might be the 4th or 5th best Finnish defence-man, doesn’t make him better than Brodie and Muzzin.

Well, you have right for your opinion. I disagree

 

[HockeyVirus]

And if they moved Dermott over him, this thread would be people saying how dumb it was to keep a 27 year old soon to be UFA over a 24 year old comparable dman.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

And if they moved Dermott over him, this thread would be people saying how dumb it was to keep a 27 year old soon to be UFA over a 24 year old comparable dman.

Why move one of them ?

 

[HockeyVirus]

Why move one of them ?

Sandin and Liljegren are too good for the AHL and there is a log jam. If someone had to go, it makes sense to move the guy with no control after this season who's biggest strength is the PP (something we have a lot of on D).

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Sandin and Liljegren are too good for the AHL and there is a log jam. If someone had to go, it makes sense to move the guy with no control after this season who's biggest strength is the PP (something we have a lot of on D).

And that doesn't answer the question: Why move one of them ?

 

[HockeyVirus]

And that doesn't answer the question: Why move one of them ?

Please refer to the first sentence of my post.

 

[Kibe]

Just because he might be the 4th or 5th best Finnish defence-man, doesn’t make him better than Brodie and Muzzin.

Agreed. Also i would not rank him top5 among Finnish D men.

 

[Xoggz22]

I actually think Columbus over paid a bit.
Lehtonen is good puck lover but he seems to have to mutch problems in own end.

Veini Vehviläinen played tirefire team in Liiga so his numbers look bad. I think he has potential to be good in NHL.

But Lehtonen is Interesting. If he can rise his level... Might there be trade gettin center for D coming?

No chance CBJ "over paid". VV was #5 on the depth chart and while he may ultimately get some NHL playing time it certainly wasn't going to be in Columbus. I misspoke earlier in the thread about his status, like Lehtonen, VV is also a UFA at the end of the year so the deal is upside for CBJ for a player that wasn't going to be part of the future. Seems like a reasonable hockey trade for me - certainly from a CBJ perspective.

 

[Subway Schenn]

A trade to give Mikko an opportunity. I feel like he'll do well.... too bad, it never felt like he fit in on the Leafs.

 

[exporta]

He was never given the opportunity to adjust to the NHL with the Leafs.

He has the tools to become a top 4 pp specislist. Just wasnt going to happen in this condensed schedule and additions on the leafs back end.

 

[smitty10]

I am not trying to insult. I have seen Mikko play enough to know what his level is. You don't know because you haven't even tried. I am fully aware that KHL is a tier inferior league to NHL, but their superstars tend to do well in NHL as well.

Only D I'd take from Leafs before Lehtonen is Reilly, who is not really good defensively. Muzzin is good but he has no offence.

If you think someone like Bogosian or Dermott is better than Lehtonen, I can only laugh at you.

Of course there is no proof on the table yet, it remains to be seen...I've been wrong before

I thought Lehtonen could have been our #6 guy based on how he played. With that being said he is a bottom pairing quality Dman in the NHL.

Rielly, Brodie, Muzzin and Holl are all better than him by a long, long ways. Bogosian is not skilled like Lehtonen, but instead uses his physical tools to create an important niche on this D core.

Dermott is the one guy who Lehtonen could have played over in the lineup. However, Dermott can move the puck up the ice AND play bottom pairing quality defense. Lehtonen is better offensively, but really didn't show he could defend at the NHL level at even a bottom pairing level. We heard all sorts of great things about him that unfortunately didn't seem to translate to the NHL.

I would expect him to find a spot on a good team that has room for a PP specialist or a team that is desperate for an offensive defenseman. He could have easily stayed on ans been a good #7 for Toronto, but Dubas gave him a chance to prove himself elsewhere. Although, I'm not sure Torts will love him or give him much of a chance given his defensive flaws.

 

[kihei]

Doing Lehtonen a favour by sending him to Torts sounds the very definition of a mixed blessing.

 

[Ciao]

No chance CBJ "over paid". VV was #5 on the depth chart and while he may ultimately get some NHL playing time it certainly wasn't going to be in Columbus. I misspoke earlier in the thread about his status, like Lehtonen, VV is also a UFA at the end of the year so the deal is upside for CBJ for a player that wasn't going to be part of the future. Seems like a reasonable hockey trade for me - certainly from a CBJ perspective.

I think VV is a pending RFA.